"And she cried out a sharp, piercing cry, like a bird come back to an empty nest, peering into its bed, and all the babies gone..." (pg. 80, line 471-474)
Birds have various forms of symbolism: the optimistic representations of independence, freedom, and spirit vs. the pessimistic representations of rebellion and bad luck. Antigone, as the protagonist in this tragedy, has a flat and static character. Even though she is the protagonist in that sense, we would expect her to be more of a round and dynamic character. Her fiery personality, her family loyalty, her independence, and her stubborness have determined the relationships she has developed and had and how it has left her character solid in stone, flat, and static. She obviously will do anything to get her way, even if other characters in the tragedy strongly disagree with her opinions and actions such as Creon. Seeing her brother Polynices so vulnerable and abandoned, she felt empathy immediately for him and venerated him as her brother because he deserves such equal rights that any other individual would earn in their death.
A bird has a strong, free spirit that will never change and never give in to any challenges or downfalls in life especially if they know others will discourage their decisions and choices as it is.
Danielle Pallarca
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting! Don't forget to sign your name. Inappropriate, irrelevant, rude, and silly comments will be deleted.